What a day to remember!
What a moment in our history!
What a moment to be a member and living witness of Holy Family Catholic Church, Festac!!!
For me, it is a 360-degree fulfilment.
My late father Chief Matthew Ekeke Ohamuo was the first to sell sacramentals when the Church started at Restaurant 8, 3rd Avenue. From there we went on to clear our newly acquired land on 22 Road just beside the Festac Post Office and built the first batcher or what you will call a thatched roof. We later pulled it down and built the small Hall after which the late Monsignor Michael Omisesan came up with the brilliant vision of building an air-conditioned magnificent edifice the type of which had never been seen in Festac and environs. He had a vision that the bell at the tower of the Church will ring so loud that no matter where you are in Festac you will hear it.
I was an Altar server all these while. Fast forward 34 years later in 2015 the Church was pulled down to be remodelled into a modern architectural masterpiece by Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Irabor. In his wisdom he set up a Church Remodelling Fundraising Committee and found me worthy to be a member. Eight years later in 2023 Very Rev. Fr. Melvis Mayaki completed the edifice and set up the Church Rededication Committee and yet again I was found worthy to be a key member of the enterprise.
Who am I to be so recognized not only to serve in the Lord’s courtyard but also to be found worthy to help in the building and rebuilding of the Lord’s house? It can only be God. To Him alone be all the honour, glory, praises, worship, adoration and exaltations.
In this Church, I did my First Holy Communion, my Confirmation and my Holy Matrimony with Chibugo. My first daughter Chiamaka was among the first three deliveries when the Holy Family Clinic started maternity services under Rev. Sr. Victoria Olonikadi. Two other of our children were also delivered in the clinic all under Sr Victoria. In this Church, all my children were baptised and received their First Holy Communion and Confirmations too.
It is in this Church that I served His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie the then Archbishop of Lagos on a number of occasions. It was from this Church that I had the singular and rare privilege of going to see His Holiness Saint Pope John Paul II at the National Stadium, Surulere when he first visited Nigeria on June 12, 1982. It is from this Church that I am close and upfront with the Archbishop of Sokoto diocese His Lordship Matthew Hassan Kukah and His Grace Alfred Adewale Martins the current Archbishop of Lagos.
Who says that I am not blessed?
Prince Ikenna Charles Oham, KSM
Below is a link to part of the rededication